Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His reasoning can be mistaken, wrong, misled and sometimes fallacious. But he is liable to correction because reason is the guiding star of his life. But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain, and makes a man reactionary.
Gautama Buddha
(The real brahmin is the one who:). . . has crossed beyond duality. . . knows no this shore, other shore, or both. . . (is) settled in mind. . . without inflowing thoughts. . . is without attachment. . . endures undisturbed criticism, ill-treatment and bonds, (and is) strong in patience. . . (is) without anger, devout, upright, free from craving, disciplined and in his last body. . . has experienced the end of his suffering here in this life, who has set down the burden, freed!
